“Sure some people will do better briefly...but some places will simply cut employees to make up the cost, then goods will increase in price because of higher labor costs, and with more on welfare from job cutting, giving the feds an excuse for another tax raise, and we’re worse off than before,” Hilliker said.

The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Michigan, at $7.40 an hour, is among 19 states with a higher minimum wage.

There are 22 states with minimum wage set at the federal level, four states with minimum wages below the federal level, and five states with no set state minimum wage.

Federal minimum wage prevails in states with lower or no state-established minimum wages. State minimum wages prevail in states with a higher minimum wage than the federal level.

The highest minimum wage in the country is $9.19 an hour in Washington state, the only state that tops the $9 an hour Obama proposed Tuesday night.

Other priorities of the president include immigration reform, expanded preschool nationwide, making it easier to vote, curbing gun violence, comprehensive tax reform, Medicaid reforms, climate change, and road and bridge repairs.

However, a higher minimum wage drew the most immediate attention of the proposals the president put forth.

Johnson, in the Michigan Legislature, followed up Obama’s proposal with his legislation to gradually increase Michigan’s minimum wage to $10 in a series of increases by Jan. 1, 2016.

Senate Bill 203 was referred to the Committee on Government Operations chaired by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville from Monroe, making it questionable whether the legislation will even get a committee hearing.

The 38-member Senate has 26 Republicans.

“I don’t perceive that as something that’s going to happen,” said state Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake, Wednesday. “Minimum wage wasn’t really set up for full-time people anyway. It was set up for students and part-time workers. It wasn’t put out there so working families depend on it for a living.”

Kowall said a higher hourly minimum wage would be detrimental to small businesses.

“Most companies are paying over that anyway,” Kowall said. “Nationally, that’s a real inflation issue there. I just don’t think there’s be much chance of it moving forward.”